Study Shows Oklahoma Cut State Workers

Study Shows Oklahoma Cut State Workers

Article excerpt

Oklahoma is one of only eight states that has reduced its
number of state employees during the past four years, according
to a study published in the journal State Policy Reports.

An article in the January issue shows Oklahoma's state
government workforce decreased by 0.3 percent between November
1990 and November 1994.

During the same period, state government employment grew
nationally by 5.1 percent, the study said.

The article appears to weaken claims by Gov. Frank Keating
that state government is bloated.

Keating has said Oklahoma ranks sixth in the nation in per
capita state employment. That ranking, he said, indicates state
government needs to "examine its waistline."

Keating said Thursday the ranking he cites includes all public
employees _ state, local and federal.

Using 1993 figures, Keating said government employment leveled
among state workers and rose at the local level.

"State and local (government employment) together are rising
at a greater rate than private sector employment," in Oklahoma,
Keating said.

Private sector employment is important to policy makers
because it provides the tax base from which services are
provided, Keating said.

Keating's example occurred before last year, though, when
state government employment fell by 10 percent. The Office of
State Finance reports state government has 4,132 fewer workers
today than it did in 1993. The statistics do not include teachers
or higher education employees.

Sen. Larry Dickerson, chairman of the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation, offered
this explanation of why Oklahoma's per capita state employment
levels have traditionally been higher than other states: Oklahoma
classifies many more of its public sector workers as state rather
than local government employees.

District attorneys, district judges and public health workers
are classified as state employees, while many other states
consider them as county personnel, the Poteau Democrat said.

Also, rural states like Oklahoma tend to need more employees
per capita to cover their geographic area. …